Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman representing Kogi Central on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has identified corruption and bad leadership as the major factors responsible for the country’s backwardness in terms of economic growth and development.
In a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Michael Jegede, the Senator noted that after 51 years of Independence Nigeria would have been among the Newly Industrialized Countries (NIC) with considerable level of economic advancement, if not for corruption on the part of past leaders.
Abatemi-Usman, who was a Special Assistant to ex-Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, maintained that Nigeria can only get to the Promised Land when politicians and other public office holders shun corruption and work with every sense of morality and rectitude.
“Today, we are 51 years old as a nation with numerous human and natural resources at our disposal; yet, we are still very backward as far as economic development is concerned. We have not been able to utilize our God-given abundant and unlimited resources to the advantage of our people as a nation. Some few individuals have continued to corner the country’s resources at the detriment of the populace. Corruption and bad leadership have destroyed our economy. As we mark our 51st Independence Anniversary, we must have a rethink and work together to advance the course of the country for the benefit of all of us,” Abatemi-Usman appealed.
The youngest Senator in the Seventh Senate called on Nigerians to key into the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan in order to ensure that the country is lifted to the expected height of development, while observing that incessant crises and bombings would not help Nigeria in any way.
